Pediatric Nutrition Therapy

 

Good nutrition is an essential part of health, but food is often a sensitive subject; parents may feel like they should know all the answers and can feel frustrated when their child eats too much or too little. Pediatric nutrition therapy can work with you and your child to ensure they receive the proper care to maintain adequate nutrition.

Our licensed Nutrition Dietitians use evidence-based information to treat different disease states and integrative nutrition (vitamins and minerals). They are trained to determine what information relates specifically to the needs of each client.  

Each pediatric nutrition consultation focuses on developing short-term and long-term goals for treating a variety of difficulties your child may be experiencing, from feeding difficulties, to weight loss, to sensory and behavioral issues and more. We will work together to create a realistic nutrition plan that can help with such topics as…

  • Autism
  • Obesity
  • Behavioral Issues
  • ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
  • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)
  • Picky Eaters
  • Nutrition Deficits
  • Weight Loss/ Weight Gain
  • Inadequate Growth
  • And more

Nutrition Therapy Services

We approach nutrition therapy as a holistic discipline focused on education, information, empowerment, and a systematic approach to treatment. A healthy framework can give you the tools to change your behavior and address these concerns.

Nutrition therapy is a partnership; results are best achieved when an educator and client work together to create a meal program specific to the client’s needs and goals. 

Our services include targeted benefits and structured plans related to…

  • Nutrition Evaluation
  • Nutrition Therapy
  • Custom Menu Preparations (Weekly or Monthly with Recipes)
  • Basic Cooking Classes
  • Pantry Clean Outs
  • Grocery Shopping Tools
  • Shopping on a Budget
  • How to Read Food Labels
  • Nutrition Education
    • Portion Sizes
    • Vitamin/Mineral Education
    • Understanding Gluten-Free
    • Probiotics and Prebiotics

Have questions?

Call us to learn more or to schedule an evaluation

How does it work?

Nutrition is a large and sometimes overwhelming subject for people to broach themselves. Our Registered Dietician Nutritionists (RDN) can teach patients the information they need and help design a plan of care.

The Nutrition Care Process is a systematic approach to providing each patient with high-quality, individualized nutrition care. Following this framework, RDNs may account for a client’s needs, values, and personal history, empowering the RDN to use the best evidence available to guide their decision-making. 

Many practitioners in healthcare, including nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists, have adopted similar care processes specific to their discipline.

In 2003, the Academy’s House of Delegates adopted the NCP in an effort to provide dietetics professionals with a framework for critical thinking and decision-making. Use of the NCP can lead to more efficient and effective care and greater recognition of the role of dietetic professionals in all care settings.

The Nutrition Care Process consists of four distinct, interrelated steps:

Nutrition Assessment

The RDN collects and documents information such as food or nutrition-related history; biochemical data, medical tests and procedures; anthropometric measurements, nutrition-focused physical findings and client history.

Diagnosis

Data collected during the nutrition assessment guides the RDN in selection of the appropriate nutrition diagnosis (i.e., naming the specific problem).

Intervention

The RDN then selects the nutrition intervention that will be directed to the root cause (or etiology) of the nutrition problem and aimed at alleviating the signs and symptoms of the diagnosis.

Monitoring/Evaluation

The final step of the process is monitoring and evaluation, which the RDN uses to determine if the client has achieved, or is making progress toward, the planned goals.

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Contact us today for more information on the Nutrition Care Process and how a licensed professional can help you determine a plan of action.

We’re here to help your child be their best.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nutrition Therapy

What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements to qualify for the credential RD or RDN.

“The “RD” credential is a legally protected title used exclusively by practitioners authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.”

Practitioners earn the RD credential after meeting four specific requirements:

  1. Earn at least a bachelor’s degree.
  2. Complete a supervised practice program.
  3. Pass the national registration examination.
  4. Must maintain continuing education requirements for recertification.

In addition, the state of Florida requires that a Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, or Nutrition Counselor must have a license to practice. This law ensures safe practice by qualified practitioners.

Every Registered Dietitian is a Nutritionist, but not every Nutritionist is a Registered Dietitian.

Registered Dietitians are required to follow a code of ethics and standards of practice, and all of them are trained to rely on evidence-based information to inform their decisions.

When working with Atlantic Speech Therapy’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, you can feel assured knowing you are working with a licensed expert.

What is Medical Nutrition Therapy?

Medical Nutrition Therapy is an essential component of comprehensive healthcare. Individuals with a variety of conditions and illnesses can improve their health and quality of life with the assistance of Medical Nutrition Therapy.  During an MNT intervention, a Registered Dietician counsels clients on the behavioral and lifestyle changes required to impact long-term eating habits and health.

Medical Nutrition Therapy includes:

  1. Performing a comprehensive nutrition assessment to determine a nutrition diagnosis. (Note: a nutrition diagnosis is not the same as a medical diagnosis)
  2. Planning and implementing a nutrition intervention using evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines.
  3. Monitoring and evaluating an individual’s progress over subsequent visits with the RD.

RDs can provide Medical Nutrition Therapy and other nutrition services for a variety of diseases and conditions, including

  • Disease prevention: general wellness
  • Gastro Intestinal disorders: celiac disease, Crohn’s disease
  • Immune system disorders: Food allergy, HIV/AIDS
  • Pediatrics: infant/child feeding, failure-to-thrive, inborn errors of metabolism
  • Weight Management: weight gain, weight maintenance, weight loss, overweight/obesity prevention, eating disorders
  • Women’s Health: pregnancy, osteoporosis, anemia
What is the difference between a Nutrition Diagnosis vs A Medical Diagnosis?

A medical diagnosis can only be given by an MD or OD.

A nutrition diagnosis relates specifically to an issue that can be managed through diet. An individual can have more than one nutrition diagnosis.

Example:

Medical Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Nutrition Diagnosis:

1) Disordered eating pattern – related to limited foods liked and eaten by patient, as evidenced by diet history and observed behaviors.

2) Underweight – related to minimal food intake and picky eating, as evidenced by BMI/age below the second percentile.

When you work with Atlantic Speech Therapy, we establish a plan of care to address each nutritional diagnosis.

How do I know if my child could benefit from nutrition therapy?

If you are concerned with picky eating, weight loss, overweight and obesity, nutrient deficiencies, food allergies, celiac disease, or general wellness, you may benefit from nutrition therapy.

Food can be used as a coping mechanism that results in overeating or undereating. Both of these actions may lead to a form of malnutrition. Nutrition therapy can give you the tools to change your behavior and address these concerns. But remember, behaviors take time to change, and they don’t occur in one day. 

Contact us today for more information on nutrition therapy and how a licensed professional can help you determine a plan of action.